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OFT: Airlines need to make debit card charges more transparent

Fri 17th Jul 2009

Airlines need to make sure that they better emphasise the extra charges passengers will incur if they book their flights with a debit card, it has been declared.

A spokesperson for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said that the "commercial decision" made by airline to charge for debit card transactions is perfectly legal proving the fees are made clear and "consumers are not misled".

They added that as long as consumers are made aware of the charges and opt for their chosen payment methods with a clear awareness of the fees, the OFT will have no reason to investigate the issue.

"We've done a lot of work with airlines and have said that they need to ensure their advertising and processes are clear," the representative furthered.

One of the airlines that charges extra fees for payments made by credit or debit card is easyJet, with the former being the more expensive option.